Lease renewals wait for council report

By
Kylie Stevens

LEASE renewals for Mount Druitt Historical Society and Marayong House Neighbourhood Centre have been put on hold.

The Manse

LEASE renewals for Mount Druitt Historical Society and Marayong House Neighbourhood Centre have been put on hold.

Liberal councillor Karlo Siljeg proposed the recommended leases be deferred until a new report examining leasing of council buildings to community groups is ready.

The existing leases will continue while the report is being finalised.

"We don't have a clear or defined policy on how leases are set and how different groups are treated," Cr Siljeg said.

"If we don't, we're always going to have problems in the future. We need to do this in an equitable manner and have a proper policy in case groups raise complaints because loopholes haven't been closed."

The council has leased the restored Manse property (pictured) to Mount Druitt Historical Society for displaying memorabilia and storing archives.

Cr Stephen Bali raised concerns about uncertainty for groups which have a pending lease renewal.

But historical society patron Cr Jacqueline Donaldson said it shouldn't be a concern.

"You can't select one group and not another," she said.

"I'm sure the lease will be renewed because the building the group is in can't be used for anything else. But we need to have a policy for all of our different building to have consistency."